Elevator system

ABSTRACT

An elevator system having an elevator car mounted for movement in the hoistway of a structure to serve the floors therein, and control mechanism for the elevator car which includes translating devices and tape mounted cams. Up to and including four lanes of cams are mounted on a single tape, and the required number of tapes are disposed in the hoistway and oriented in the travel direction of the elevator car. The translating devices, which are carried by the elevator car, are constructed and mounted to compensate for dimensional changes between the devices and tapes, to guide and exert centering forces on the tape, and to reduce operating noise between the tapes and its guides, and between the cams and the cam followers of the translating devices, by using guide and cam follower rollers biased against the edges of the tape.

I Jun-9d t s Patent [191 Savagev [54]- ELEvAToR SYSTEM' [75] Inventor:Cunwellsavage, New York, NY.

[73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Pittsburgh-Pa.

221 Filed':' Oct. 26,- 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 410,155

521u.s.-c1-. .j. 1s7/2s, is7/29R UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,938,603 5/1960l oughridge 187 29 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher AssistantExaminer-James L, Rowland Attorney, Agent, or Firm'D. R. Lackey .157]ABSTRACT An elevator system havingan elevator'car mounted for movementin'the hoistway of a structure to'serve the floors therein, and controlmechanism for the ele vator car which includestranslating devices andtape mounted cams. Up to and including four lanes'of cams are mounted ona single tape, and the required number of tapes are disposed in thehoistway and oriented in. the travel direction of thevelevator car.Thetr'ansIating devices, which are carried by the elevatorcar, areconstructed and mounted to compensate for dimensional changes betweenthe devices and tapes, to guide and exert-centering forces on the tape,and to reduce operating noise between the tapes and its guides, and

between the cams and the cam followers of the translating devices, byusing guide and cam follower rollers v biased against the edges of thetape.

'19 Claims, 7- Drawing Figures 1 1j3i,s56,116.; 14 1 Dec. 24, 1974.-

PATENTEBBECMSHU,

' SHEET 1 a; 3;

FIGZ

DRIVE relays, andtheir application to elevator systems, are deelevatorsystem having an elevator car mounted for.

.ELEYATORSYSTEM. I

1 .LB ckoRou Do THE INVENTION 3; '1. Field ofthe Invention:

The invention relates in general to elevator systems,

and more specifically to elevator systems which utilize controlmechanisms which include translating devices,

such as electrical switches, and tape mounted cams, whichcooperate toprovide control signals-responsive .to the position of an elevator carinits hoistway.

r 2. Descriptionof the Prior Art:

It is commonin elevator systems .of all'types, includ- I ing hydraulic,and bothgeared and gearless' traction systems, to employ translatingdevicesresponsive to'the position of an elevator car in its hoistway.The type of I5 I translating device employed depends to'a large'extenton the maximum normal operatingspeed of theelevator car. Whenthe maximumcar speedis about 350-feet in spaced relation from both major surfaces.or sides of the tape and adjacent both. the right and. left-hand Hedgesthereof, to provide up to and including four lanes the switch. and thetape edge to vary within predetermined limits without adverselyaffecting the desired relationshipbet'ween the two elec'trical contacts.Movement of the cam follower roller without like movement of theguide-roller operates the electrical contact associated- :with thei camfollower roller to 'change the relationship betweenthe contacts.

per minute or-less, cooperative cams and cam operated switches areusually used for the translating means because of their; reliability andrelatively low cost-when the normal car speed exceeds '350 feet perminute the noisecreated by thetapeyupon which the-cams are mounted,passing through. the guides whichproperly locate the tap'es'and'cams'forthe cam follower arms of the switches, and the noise of the cam followerrollers striking the cams, becomes objectionable. Thus, for car speedsabove about 350'feetper minute, the translating devices commonly usedare inductor relays. Inductor scribed in my'U.S.. Pat. No.-,2-,840',l88, which is as signed to the same assignee as the presentapplication.

' While inductor relays are adesirable and a highly reliable formoffcontrol, their cost, as vl/ellfas the cost of their associatedcontrolapparatus, is higher'than camswitchjcontrollarrangements, itwould thereforebe desirable to be able to extend the usage .of thecamswitch con'trol arrangement to higher car speeds, such as to about500 feet per minute, but the noise limitation associated with thecam-switch arrangements of the prior a rt will have to be overcome. Inboth the camswitch and inductor relaya rrange'men ts, a separate tapewithcams and magnetic plates; respectively, is

used for each function. U.S. Pat. No.'2,938,603 dis closes mounting'camsbetween, adjacent tapes. US. Pat. No. 1,360,420 illustrates an elevatorsystem which uses cam-switchcontrol. It would be desirable to re ducethe number of tapes required in a cam-switch arrangement withoutreducing the number of different control functions. 1

- SUMMARY oF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present'inventionis a new andimproved movement in the hoistway of a structure to serve theNoiseissubstantially reduced by rotating both the guide and cam followerrollers against .the tape edge when the elevatorcar is moving throughthe hoistway. i The cam follower'rolleris dimensioned such that itleaves the tape edge and rolls over the cams in its associated carn lanewithout interruption of its rotating .mode. Thus, there is little noisebetween the rotating guide wheel, which is grooved to locate the tape inthe direction of its thickness, and the tape, and sincethe cam-followerroller does not'strike a cam and then accelerate from zeroRPM to an RPMdictated by car speed androlle' r diameter, but is already rotatingwhenit rides'up the inclined portion.- of a cam, noise due to cam-switchengagement isalso reduced.

Since a switch is required for eachcam lane, thebiasing forces of theguide and cam rollers are applied to both edges of the tapes, whichprovides a yieldable centering force on the tape in the direction of itswidth dimension. I v

\ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS "The invention may be betterunderstood and further rangement'shown-in FIG. 3; I floors therein, andincluding control-mechanism'for FIG. 6'illustrates, the selfcompensating feature of one ,controlling'the elevator'car. The controlmechanism includes translating. means inthe' form of electricalswitchescarried by' the elevator car, and tape mounted vcams in;thefhoistway. which'coo'perate to-p'rovide controlisignals responsive tothe position oftlie elevator car in the hoistway. The control signalsare used for such functions as stopping and levelingthe elevator car ata landing.

Up to andincluding four different functions may be shown "in' FIG. 3;

' advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered inview of the following detailed descriptionof exemplary embodiments,taken with: the accompanying drawings, in which:

v FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view inlelevation of ,ar'ielevator'systernembodyingthe teachings'of the invention;

' FIG 2is a perspective view, with parts broken away,

the teachings oftheinvention; I

FIG. 3' is an elevational view illustrating switches'constructedaccording tothe teachings'of the invention, and also illustrating themounting of a plurality of switches relative to a tape;

FIG. 4 isa side elevation of the switch arrangement illustrating fourcam lanes per tape, in accordance with FIG. Sis a fragmentaryplan-viewof the switch arswitches shownin FIG. ,3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now' to the drawing's,andFIG. lin partic'ular, there is shown'an elevator system 10 constructedaccording to the teachings" of the invention. While the controlled witha-single tape, as thecams'are mounted 3 elevatorsystem 10 is illustratedas being of the traction travel of the elevator car 12 to a type, the'invention is equally applicable to hydraulic elevator systems.

. lane, or types. of cam members may be used, as re- Morespecifically,elevato rsystem includes an elevator car 12 mounted for movement in ahoistway-14 of a building-or structure 16 having a plurality .of floorsor landings,indicated generally at 18, which floors are '25. When theinvention is applied to elevator systems having a maximum car speed ofabout 350 feet per minute or less, the drive motor 20 willconventionally drive the sheave .through a gear reducing mechanism (not'shown)."

' Hoisting ropes orcables 26 interconnect the elevator quired by aspecific application; For purposes of example, two cammembers SOand 52are illustrated in FIG. 2 for providing thefour cam lanes, with each cammember having two cam profiles for the cam lanes on its side of the tape30.

Each of the'carn members50 and'. 52- are formed to I provide the desiredcam profiles, and the cam profiles are oriented to move a cooperativecam follower in a car '12 with a'counterweight 28, with the ropes 26 ex-3 tending from the car 12,"about the traction sheave 24,

and then to the counterweight 28.

Signals responsive to the position of the elevatorcar 12in the hoistway14, which signals are used to control the movementgdeceleration andlanding of the car 12, are provided by a control mechanismwhich includesone or more elongated control elements, suchas control elements 30, and32,-which extend along the hoistway 14in the directionof movement of thecar 12. The elongated control 'elements 30and 32 are each continuousfrom'a point belowthe lower end of the path of point above the upper endof its travel path.

The control-elements 30 and-32 are guided with respect to a control'unit34 which is mounted on the elevato'r car 12'. The upper ends of thecontrol elements 30 and 32 are secured to the. building or structure 16as indicated at 36, and its lower ends pass through a fixed guide 36andare then tensioned byany suitable means, such as by weights 3 8,"orby springs. Each of the control elements 30 and 32 are constructed ofinextensible magnetic, or non-magnetic metallic'material, ornon-metallic material, as desired. Steel, for example, isexcellent, butother materials may beused. v n

As shown more'iclearly in FIG. 2,'which is a perspecdirection which issubstantially parallel to the major opposed surfaces 40 and 42 of thetapes30, and thus the direction which the cam followersare moved issubstantially perpendicular to the edges of the tape.

For purposes of example, cam meinbers'SO and 52 are illustrated as beingconstructed from a relatively thin, elongated metallic plate member,such as steel.

Cam member 52 has first and second major opposed surfaces 54-and-56,respectively, and first and second edges 58 and 60, respectively. Thecam profiles are formed .on'the edges 58 and 60. Cam member 50 hasfirstand second major .opposed surfaces 62 and 64, re-

spectively, and first and secondedges 66 and! 68, re-

spectively. The cam profiles are formed on the edges 66 and 68. Thus,edges 58 and60 provide cams in the left and right front cam lanes,respectively, and edges 66 and 68 provide cams in the leftand right-rearcam lanes, respectively. s H

The cam members 52. and 50-are mounted in predetermined spaced-relationfrom themajor opposed surfaces 40 and 42,;respectively, of tape 30, suchas by inserting tubular spacer members 70 and 72 between the cam member52 and the major'surface of the tape 30, which tubular spacer membershave their openings tional view of tape 30 and cam member 52, each. ofthe tiveview' of control element 30, each control element is'pr'eferablyin the form of a metallic ribbon or tape having first and secondflat,major opposed surfaces or sides '40 and 42," respectively, and first andsecond edges 44 and 46, respectively. Each control element or tape, suchas tape 30, preferably has a plurality of vertically spaced, elongatedslots 48 formed therein to facilitate attaching cam members thereto,which will be hereinafter described. The length of the slots is greaterthan the spacing between slots, to permit unlimited ad-- justment of thecam devicesconnectedthereto. I Each tape or control element may haveup-to and including four cam lanes associated with it, for providingsignals responsiveup to' and including four different functions. As bestillustrated in FIG. 2, the cams are mountedadjacent both major surfaces40 and 42, and the cams on each side of the, tape are disposed'adjacentto both the first and second edges 44 and 46, thus providing right andleft front cam lanes, andright and left rear cam lanes.

' A single cam'member having two cam profiles may be used to providecams in the two lanes adjacent one major surface of the tape, when twocams are to be located in side by side relationship, a'cam member mayhave a single cam profile when used for a single cam aligned'with'openings disposed through the cam members and with a slot'48. Nut; andbolt combinations shown generally/"at 74 and 76 may/then be used tofirmly secure the cam members 52 and-54 in spaced relation with the'major-opposed surfaces 40 and 42, re spectively, of the tape- 30.

As best'illustrated in FIG; 7, which is a front elevacamprofiles startin alignment with an edge of the tape 30, they taper outwardly tothemaximum dimension of the cam profile, the maximum dimension is retainedfor a predetermined dimension, and then the profile tapers inwardlyuntil it isagain in alignment with the same edge of thetape 30. Forexample, the cam profile in the right front cam lane starts at point 78,which point is.in

, the same-plane as edge '46. of tape 30, it tapers outwardly alongportion 80 and flows. smoothly into'the surface 82 which is the maximumdimension of the cam profile measuredoutwardly from point 78. Thismaximum dimension, as defined by surface -80, is retained for apredetermined'dimensionand then the cam profile flows smoothly intotapered portion 84, with the taper ending at point .86, which point isagain in the same plane as edge of the tape 30. I

Each cam lane requires a translating device which is, responsive to theposition of the cams in its lane. Since a each tape supports four camlanes, four translating devices may be associated with eachtape, if allfour lanes are utilized. Thus, since two tapes 30 and 32 are illustratedin FIG. 1, which providesup to and including eight cam lanes, as many aseight translating devices would be mounted in the control unit 34 shownin FIG. 1.

'devic'esfor switches 100 and 1102, respectively, for cooperating withtwo of the cam lanes-Since the translating' devices are of likeconstruction, withonly their orientation being different for the variouscam lanes,.only translating device or switch 100 will be described indetail. FIGS. 4'anufs', which are side and plan views of the -s\ vitch-100, respectively, will alsobe'referred to when describing. theconstruction of the switch 100.

I Translating device 100 is an electrical switch oriented to beresponsive to the cams in the left front cam lanezSwitch 100 includesamounting base 104, which may have a-configuration in the form of anelongated rectangle, as illustrated, having first and second major shownin FIGS. 4 and 5, such as' by screws 108 and 110.

. Fir'stand second bearing .members 112- and ll4,"respectively, arefixed in spaced-relation through openings disposed through themounting-plate-104 and mounting bracket-106;'Shaftmembers 116 and 118are FIG. 3 is a front elevational ,view ofone of the tapes, such astape30, illustrating first and second translating through suitableopenings therein, and-a compression I spring member 156 isdisposedbetweenthe spring seats and pins' 124-, 152 and 126, 154.Compression'spring opposed surfaces-or] sides .105'a nd l07,respectively.

Base 104 issecured to a suitable mounting bracket 106,

- ing portions of finger board members 160 and 162, re-

journaled for rotationin" bearings 112 and 11-4, respectively, with theshaft members 116 and 118 extending outwardly from both ends of theirassociated bearings. The longitudinal axes of shaft'members 116 and 118are parallel with one another, and substantially perpendicular-to themajor opposed surfaces-'of the mounting plate member 104.

Cam and guide arm :members 120 and 122 are fixed which ends extendoutwardly'from bearings 112 and to the ends of shaft members116 and 118,respectively,

114, respectively, adjacent to the side 107 of the mounting plate member1045Cam andguide arm members 120 and 122'are of likeconfigu rationandcon-- structionfbut are oriented differently, with one being rotatedlwith respect to-the other, and then flipped over. Cam and guide armmembers and 122 include firstprojections '124 and 126, respectively,which function as spring seats, second projections 128 and 130,respectively, 'whichf cooperate tofunctiojn as a stop, and thirdprojections 132 and 134, respectively. The third projections .132and 134support shaft members 136 and 138, respectively, which extend outwardlyin a common direction away from the mounting plate 104. Shaft members142 and144 are attached rigidly to shaft members I36 and 138,respectively. Shaft members 142 and 144 extend outwardly from members136 and 138, and journal the rollers 146 and l48for rotation.

As illustrated most clearly in FIG. 4, the outer periphery of the guideroller 148 has a veegroove 150 disposed therein, with thewidth'dimension of groove 150 being selected toaccommodat'e' thewidthdimension of the tape 30. The widthdimension of 'groove -.15 0 in the-.g'uide wheel is selected to accurately locate and guide the tape 30 inthe direction of its thickness. Also, as il-.

lustrated most clearly in-FIG. 4, the camfollower roller 146Thas asmooth, relatively wide outer surface. a por-- :tiontof which is alignedwith the :groove 150 in the guide roller, .astindicatjed by-broken line.155. A portion of thi's outer surfaceextends from the'broken line:towardsthe cam arm 120, fo rengaging the cams inits associated camlane. L

The projections 124 and 1260f the cam and guide arms 120 and 122,respectively, which .functionas spring seats, may havexpins 1"52 and 154disposed 156 rotates cam arm 120 clockwise about shaft 116,

and guide arm 122 counterclockwise about shaft -1 18,

until. projections 128 and l30-contact one another to provide a stop. 1

First and second, contact finger members 160 an'd162, which are of likeconstruction, are fixed'to the. ends of shaft members 116 and 118 whichends extend outwardly from side 105'of the mounting plate member 104.The contact finger boards 160 and 162 each have a curved portion whichhas the same radius as its associated shaft, and a screw disposedthrough the curved portion threadably engages a tapped opening in theshaft torsecure each'contact fingerboard member to the side of itsassociated shaft member. For example,

screws 164 and 166 extend through the curved mountspectively, to mountthe fingerboard members to shaft members 116-and 118. Thus, pivotalmovement of cam follower roller 146 on itsguide arm'120 about thelongitudinal axis of shaft 116 rotates shaft- 116 and also the fingerboard member- 160. In like manner, pivotal movement of guide'roller 148on itsguide arm 122 rotates shaft member 118 and the finger board member162. I

Inaddition toxthe curved mounting portions, each finger board member hasfirst,'secondand third projecelectrical contact member 180, havingajcontact button 182 fixed to one endthereof, is, disposed to lieflat inthese two U-shaped channels, oriented with its contact button 182 on itslower-end facing to the left when viewing switch 100 in FIG. 3.Projection has a raised spring seatbut ton 184 facing the contact member180, and a compression spring member 186 is disposed from the springseat button 184 to the electrical contact, to bias the contact memberoutwardly to snugly hold the contact member in the channels definedbythe projections 168 and 172 on the finger board member 160.

In like manner, a contact member 188 having .a contact button 190 on oneend thereof is secured to finger board member 162 by a compressionspring 192. .Contact member 188 is oriented such that its contact tape30. It will alsobe noted in FIG. 5, which illustrates button is on itsupper end, on the side thereof facing to the right, when viewing switch100 in FIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 3,switch,100'is-mountedsuch that spring 156biases rollers 1,46 and 148 snugly against edge 44 of-tape 30.Biasing-the rollers against the tape edge 44 compresses the spring 156.and provides a gap '194 between the projections 128 and 130, whichprojections cooperate to provide a stop. Thecorrect amount of initialbias, when'tape 30, is properly centered in the direction of its width,is when the longitudinal axes of electrical contact members 180 and 188are both substantially parallel with one'another. It will be notedthatboth the cam follower and guide rollers 146 and -1'48 are biasedagainst the same edge'44 of the thecam members 50 and 52 mounted on thetape 30 below the present location of switches 100 and 102,

that the width of the cam follower roller 146 is suffi- .cient toContact the edge 44 of tape 30, and alsoto contact the. cam profilelocated in the left front camlane. It will be noted that theroller willnot contact the cam profile in the left rear cam lane.

into .position on shaft 142. The construction of the cam' followerroller 146 which provides this result is best Shown'in FIG. 5.- r

1 Since the switches 100 and 102 are biased against opposite edges'44and 46 of the tape 30, they exert a yieldable centering force on thetape 30. When locating the switches in pairs on the tape, if they arecentered on the tape they will exert'the same force on the tape. If theyare not centered on the tape, one switch will exert more forceflon' oneside of the tape, the other switch less forceon the other side of thetape. The switches exert a gentle pressure to center the tape whilestill adapting to the off-center tape. The further off center, thehigher the centering pressure on the tape.

cam member 52 which is locatedin the left front cam ,lane; The rotatingguide roller 148-r emains on the-edge "44 of the tape'30, while therotating cam follower roller 146 continues'to rotate as it is lifted offof the edge 44 of the tape 30 by the cam profile-The cam, profile causesthe cam roller 146 to pivot the cam arm 120 counterclockwise about shaft1l6, moving electrical contact member180 counterclockwise and out ofengagement with electrical contact 188. When the cam I with tape mountedcams disposed-in the hoistway. For

While the grooved guide rollers 148 locate the tape accurately in thedirection of its thickness, the tape may move slightly in the directionof its width, even though under the influence of the centering forcesprovided by the biased rollers against opposite edges of the tape.The'pivotal arrangement of the cam follower and guide rollers l46'and148, respectively, with each roller controlling the position of anelectrical contact, automatically compensates for changes inthelocajtionof tape 30 in the direction of its width. This automaticcompensating feature for'an off-center tape is illus trated more clearlyin FIG. 6, which illustrates switch I 100 in solid lines when thetape'30 iscorrectly centered in the direction of its width, and theswitch 100is' clockwise, maintaining the predetermined relationship ofthe contacts, which, as illustrated in the example of switch 100 shownin FIG. 3, is the closed condition. If

edge 44 were to move from the solid line location to the v right,instead of tothe left as shown in FIG. 6,spring 156 would be subjectedto less compression, reducing the magnitude of the centering force onedge44 of the tape. Cam'arms 120 and 122 would rotateielectricalcontacts 180 and l88 clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, bythe same increment, to maintain the same relative positions of thecontacts as when the tape 30 is correctly centered in the direction ofits width .di-

example, in the disclosed elevator systemthere is no sliding contactbetween guides and their tapes, with all of the guiding contacts beingrotational, the switching devices responsive to the cams are disposedand constructed to provide yieldable centering forces on the tapes inthe direction of its width, the disclosed switches automaticallycompensate for an off-center. tape, maintaining the same relativeposition for the contacts when the tape is off center, as well as whenthe tape is on center, the cam follower roller is already rotating atthe correct speed when it encounters a cam profile to reduce the camfollower roller-cam contact noise level, and the number of tapesrequired to be mounted in the hoistway is substantially reduced, sinceeach tape is capable of handling upv to and including four cam lanes. if f lclaim as my invention; 7

.1. elevator system, comprising; u

a structure having a plurality of floors and a hoistway,

an elevator car, I 7

means mounting said elevator carjfor movement in said hoistway to serveat least certain of said floors,

control means for said elevator carincluding an elongated member havingfirst and second substantially v opposed surfaces and firstand secondedges, a first cam member having a first cam profile thereon,

and means mounting said first cam member on said elongated member inspaced relation relative to the first opposed surface and with, thefirst cam profile vator car,

translating means including a first switch device having a cam followerand guide means, and 'meansmounting said translating means on saidelevator car, I said guide means being disposed to guide said control 1meansadjacent to said first switch device such that .the cam follower ofsaidfirst switch .deviceiis responsive to the first cam profile of saidfirst cam member.

2. The elevator system of claim 1 whereinthe first I cam profile of thefirst cam member extends outwardly. past the first edge of the elongatedmember.

structure in thedirectionof movement of said ele-' I follower rollers.

. ber.

1,9 3; The elevator system of claim 2 including a'second cam-memberhaving a firstcam profilethereon, means member in spaced relationrelative to the first opposed surface thereof, with-the first camprofile of said second means includes a second switchdevice having a camfollower and guide meansmounted such that the cam follower of the secondswitch device is responsive to the first cam profile of the second cammember.

I 4. The elevator system of-claimZ wherein the first switch deviceincludes first and second electrical mounting .said second cam member onthe elongated cam member extending outwardly past the second edge of theelongated. member, and wherein the translating member inspaced relationrelative to the second opposed surfacethereof, withthe first, camprofile of said second cam member oriented to move a cooperative camfollower in a'direction substantially parallel with v the second opposedsurface, and wherein the translatingmeans includes a second switchdevice having a cam follower and guide means mounted such that the camfollower of the second switch device is responsive to'the firstcamprofile of the second cam memberl l1. The elevator-system of claim 10wherein the first v and second cam members each have first and second achange in the dimension between the switch and the edge of the tape, andprevent relative movement betweenthe first and second electricalcontacts while both the guide and cam follower rollers are in contactwith said common edge-of the elongated-member.

5.'The elevator system of claim 4 wherein the cam follower roller hasawidth dimension selected to enable it to rotate on the first edge ofthe elongated member until coming to the first cam profile,iat whichpoint the cam follo'wer' roller leaves the first edge of the elongatedmember and follows the cam profile while continuing torotate. v I v M I6; The elevator system of claim4 wherein theaxes of the guide an d' camfollower rollers aredisposed in spacedparallel relation, andthe firstand second pivot axes are located between the'axes of the guide and cam7. The elevator system of claim 4 including a second cam member having afirst cam profile thereon mounted in'spaced relation relativeto anopposed surface of the elongated member, with the cam profile ex tendingoutwardly past the second edge of the elon gated member, and includingasecond switch device constructed similarly to the first switch device,and in cluding means biasing the second switch device against the secondedge of the elongated member, to locate the elongated member between thefirst and second switch devices in the direction perpendicular to itsfirst and second edges, with yieldablecentering forces.

' 8. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the first cam memberincludes a second cam profile which extends outwardly in a directionopposite to the first cam profile to establish first and seconddifferent cam lanes on one side of the elongated member, and wherein thetranslating means includes a second switch device having a camfollowerand guide means mounted such that 1 the cam follower ofthesecond switch device'is respon- 1 'sive tothe second camprofileofthefirst cam member.-

9.-The elevator system of claim 8/ wherein the first and second camprofiles extendoutwardly pastthe first and second edges, respectively,of the elongated memmounting said second cammember on the elongatedoppositely extending cam profiles thereon, which extend outwardly pastthe first and second edges, respectively, of the elongated membertoestablish four different lanes of cams, and wherein thetranslatingmeans includes third and fourth switch devices each-havingcam follower and guide means mounted such that the cam follower'of thethird and fourth switch devices are responsive to the second camprofiles of the first and secondcam members, respectively. r

12. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the guide I means is a guideroller adapted to ride .on an elongated member. r

13. The elevator system of claim-12 wherein the edge of the guide rolleris groovedto accommodate anedge of the elongated member and provide a.guide for the-elongated member in the direction between its first andsecond opposed surfaces; Y v

14. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the cam follower is a rollerand the first camprofile extendsoutwardly past the first edge of theelongated member, and

wherein the cam follower roller has, a width dimension selected to rideagainstthe first edge of the elongated member until coming to a camprofile at which point it leaves the edge of the elongated member andfollows the cam profile. I Y

15. An elevator system, comprising: I

t a structure having a plurality of floors and a hoistway,

an elevator-car', 1 means mounting said elevator car for movementin saidhoistway to serve at least certain of the floors,

means mounting the tape member to extend along the hoistway of saidstructure in the direction of movement of said elevator car,

translating means including four switch devices, one

for each of said four cam lanes,

each of said switch devices including a guide roller and a camfollowerroller, and means biasing said guide and cam follower rollersfor rotation against a common. edge of said tape member, with two of Isaid switch devices having their guide and cam follower rollers biasedagainst the first edge and two means-mounting said translating means onsaid elevathe direction between its first and second major opposedsurfaces, and the switch devices, being biased against the first andsecond edges, provide yieldable centering forces to locate the tapemember in the direction between its first and second edges.

17. The elevator system of claim wherein the width dimension of the camfollower rollers of the switch devices is selected to enable each rollerto rotate against an edge of the tape member .lower rollers of eachswitch device in 'ferential directions about first and second pivot axesuntil reaching a cam member in its associated lane of cam members, atwhich point the cam follower roller rides up the profile of the cammember while continuing to. rotate.

18. The elevator system of claim 15 wherein the means biasing each'ofthe switch devices against an edge of the tape member biases the guideand cam folopposite circum- 12 v disposed between the axes of the guideand cam follower rollers, and including first and second electricalcontacts responsive to the pivoting of the 'guideand cam followerrollers, respectively, with pivoting of both rollers due to changingspacing of the switch device and the adjacent edge of the tape membermaintaining the first and second electrical contacts in the samerelative position to one another, and the pivoting of only the camfollower roller when the cam follower roller follows the cam profilechanges the position of its associated electrical contact relative tothe other electrical contact. 7 v I 19. The elevator system of claim 15wherein the cam follower rollersare constructed such that a firstorientation thereof relative to its associated switch device willaccommodate the cam lanes adjacent one major surface of the tape member,and a second orientation, which is opposite the first orientation, willaccommodate the cam lanes adjacent the opposite major surface of thetape member.

1. An elevator system, comprising: a structure having a plurality offloors and a hoistway, an elevator car, means mounting said elevator carfor movement in said hoistway to serve at least certain of said floors,control means for said elevator car including an elongated member havingfirst and second substantially opposed surfaces and first and secondedges, a first cam member having a first cam profile thereon, and meansmounting said first cam member on said elongated member in spacedrelation relative to the first opposed surface and with the first camprofile oriented to move a cooperative cam follower in a directionsubstantially parallel with the first opposed surface, means mountingthe elongated member of said control means to extend along the hoistwayof said structure in the direction of movement of said elevator car,translating means including a first switch device having a cam followerand guide means, and means mounting said translating means on saidelevator car, said guide means being disposed to guide said controlmeans adjacent to said first switch device such that the cam follower ofsaid first switch device is responsive to the first cam profile of saidfirst cam member.
 2. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the fiRstcam profile of the first cam member extends outwardly past the firstedge of the elongated member.
 3. The elevator system of claim 2including a second cam member having a first cam profile thereon, meansmounting said second cam member on the elongated member in spacedrelation relative to the first opposed surface thereof, with the firstcam profile of said second cam member extending outwardly past thesecond edge of the elongated member, and wherein the translating meansincludes a second switch device having a cam follower and guide meansmounted such that the cam follower of the second switch device isresponsive to the first cam profile of the second cam member.
 4. Theelevator system of claim 2 wherein the first switch device includesfirst and second electrical contacts, the guide means includes a guideroller, and the cam follower includes a cam follower roller, andincluding means interconnecting said guide and cam follower rollers withsaid first and second electrical contacts, respectively, and meansbiasing said guide and cam follower rollers in opposite circumferentialdirections about first and second pivot axes against the first edge ofthe elongated member, to compensate for a change in the dimensionbetween the switch and the edge of the tape, and prevent relativemovement between the first and second electrical contacts while both theguide and cam follower rollers are in contact with said common edge ofthe elongated member.
 5. The elevator system of claim 4 wherein the camfollower roller has a width dimension selected to enable it to rotate onthe first edge of the elongated member until coming to the first camprofile, at which point the cam follower roller leaves the first edge ofthe elongated member and follows the cam profile while continuing torotate.
 6. The elevator system of claim 4 wherein the axes of the guideand cam follower rollers are disposed in spaced parallel relation, andthe first and second pivot axes are located between the axes of theguide and cam follower rollers.
 7. The elevator system of claim 4including a second cam member having a first cam profile thereon mountedin spaced relation relative to an opposed surface of the elongatedmember, with the cam profile extending outwardly past the second edge ofthe elongated member, and including a second switch device constructedsimilarly to the first switch device, and including means biasing thesecond switch device against the second edge of the elongated member, tolocate the elongated member between the first and second switch devicesin the direction perpendicular to its first and second edges, withyieldable centering forces.
 8. The elevator system of claim 1 whereinthe first cam member includes a second cam profile which extendsoutwardly in a direction opposite to the first cam profile to establishfirst and second different cam lanes on one side of the elongatedmember, and wherein the translating means includes a second switchdevice having a cam follower and guide means mounted such that the camfollower of the second switch device is responsive to the second camprofile of the first cam member.
 9. The elevator system of claim 8wherein the first and second cam profiles extend outwardly past thefirst and second edges, respectively, of the elongated member.
 10. Theelevator system of claim 1 including a second cam member having a firstcam profile thereon, means mounting said second cam member on theelongated member in spaced relation relative to the second opposedsurface thereof, with the first cam profile of said second cam memberoriented to move a cooperative cam follower in a direction substantiallyparallel with the second opposed surface, and wherein the translatingmeans includes a second switch device having a cam follower and guidemeans mounted such that the cam follower of the second switch device isresponsive to the first cam profile of the second cam member.
 11. Theelevator system of claim 10 wherein the first and second cam mEmberseach have first and second oppositely extending cam profiles thereon,which extend outwardly past the first and second edges, respectively, ofthe elongated member to establish four different lanes of cams, andwherein the translating means includes third and fourth switch deviceseach having cam follower and guide means mounted such that the camfollower of the third and fourth switch devices are responsive to thesecond cam profiles of the first and second cam members, respectively.12. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the guide means is a guideroller adapted to ride on an edge of the elongated member.
 13. Theelevator system of claim 12 wherein the guide roller is grooved toaccommodate an edge of the elongated member and provide a guide for theelongated member in the direction between its first and second opposedsurfaces.
 14. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the cam follower isa roller and the first cam profile extends outwardly past the first edgeof the elongated member, and wherein the cam follower roller has a widthdimension selected to ride against the first edge of the elongatedmember until coming to a cam profile at which point it leaves the edgeof the elongated member and follows the cam profile.
 15. An elevatorsystem, comprising: a structure having a plurality of floors and ahoistway, an elevator car, means mounting said elevator car for movementin said hoistway to serve at least certain of the floors, control meansfor said elevator car including a tape member having first and secondflat major opposed surfaces and first and second edges, and a pluralityof cam members fixed in spaced relation to opposite major opposedsurfaces of said tape member, certain of which extend past the firstedge of the tape member, and certain of which extend past the secondedge of the tape member, from both major opposed surfaces of the tapemember, to define four lanes of cam members, means mounting the tapemember to extend along the hoistway of said structure in the directionof movement of said elevator car, translating means including fourswitch devices, one for each of said four cam lanes, means mounting saidtranslating means on said elevator car, each of said switch devicesincluding a guide roller and a cam follower roller, and means biasingsaid guide and cam follower rollers for rotation against a common edgeof said tape member, with two of said switch devices having their guideand cam follower rollers biased against the first edge and two of saidswitch devices having their guide and cam follower rollers biasedagainst the second edge.
 16. The elevator system of claim 15 wherein theguide rollers are grooved to guide the tape member in the directionbetween its first and second major opposed surfaces, and the switchdevices, being biased against the first and second edges, provideyieldable centering forces to locate the tape member in the directionbetween its first and second edges.
 17. The elevator system of claim 15wherein the width dimension of the cam follower rollers of the switchdevices is selected to enable each roller to rotate against an edge ofthe tape member until reaching a cam member in its associated lane ofcam members, at which point the cam follower roller rides up the profileof the cam member while continuing to rotate.
 18. The elevator system ofclaim 15 wherein the means biasing each of the switch devices against anedge of the tape member biases the guide and cam follower rollers ofeach switch device in opposite circumferential directions about firstand second pivot axes disposed between the axes of the guide and camfollower rollers, and including first and second electrical contactsresponsive to the pivoting of the guide and cam follower rollers,respectively, with pivoting of both rollers due to changing spacing ofthe switch device and the adjacent edge of the tape member maintainingthe first and second electrical contacts in the same Relative positionto one another, and the pivoting of only the cam follower roller whenthe cam follower roller follows the cam profile changes the position ofits associated electrical contact relative to the other electricalcontact.
 19. The elevator system of claim 15 wherein the cam followerrollers are constructed such that a first orientation thereof relativeto its associated switch device will accommodate the cam lanes adjacentone major surface of the tape member, and a second orientation, which isopposite the first orientation, will accommodate the cam lanes adjacentthe opposite major surface of the tape member.